Scientists have battled for decades to find an answer to the mystery of how the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can remain hidden in the human body for a long time undetected. Now, researchers from Denmark have uncovered the strategy that seems to be employed to make this escapism possible.
Hepatitis C Virus
Hepatitis C is regarded as being among the most-researched infections in the scientific community. For more than 30 years, researchers could not manage to work out how the causal virus escapes the immune system in humans.
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With the aid of a new technique, researchers have now successfully solved the decades-long mystery. They found that the deadly virus evades immune response using a “mask.”
This discovery was made by researchers at the University of Copenhagen in conjunction with counterparts from Hvidovre Hospital. Their study was reported in the journal Nature.
“How the Hepatitis C virus manages to hide in our liver cells without being detected by the immune system has always been a bit of a mystery,” said Associate Professor Jeppe Vinther, who co-led the research. “Our revelation of the virus’ masking strategy is important, as it could pave the way for new ways of treating viral infections. And it is likely that other types of viruses use the same trick.”
Solving the avoidance mystery
Discovered in 1989, Hepatitis C is a viral infection that results in liver inflammation and scarring – plus, possibly liver cancer. Some 50 million people are estimated to have chronic infection cases globally.
Researchers in this study, for years, had hypothesized that a molecule known as FAD aided the virus in going undetected by immune defenses. This compound, which comprises vitamin B2 and ATP, plays a crucial role in the conversion of energy in human cells.
The vital role of FAD is what makes it perfect as a mask for HCV. The human immune system deems the virus something that does not need to be attacked having been cloaked by FAD. This gives the pathogen freedom to replicate and take over new cells without being noticed.
The Danish researchers wanted to prove that their theory was correct in the current study. To do this, they turned to the Arabidopsis plant.
The team purified an enzyme from the popular experimental plant and then used it to split FAD into two. This helped to prove that HCV does use the molecule to hide from the immune system.
Does the masking strategy apply to other viruses?
HCV is an RNA virus featuring RNA that needs to be duplicated once it is in the host. The new copies that are created infect new cells while FAD masks an end of the RNA’s genetic material.
RNA viruses also include the influenza virus and coronavirus. This could mean that a similar masking strategy is used by other RNA viruses, aside from HCV, to spread undetected.
Researchers have actually discovered another virus that employs the same strategy. Vinther believes there are likely others apart from those already discovered.
“All RNA viruses have the same need to hide from the immune system and there is a good chance that this is just the beginning,” Vinther said.
This finding may aid in improved detection and treatment of a variety of viral infections and diseases. It could lead to the development of new and possibly better methods.
References
Sherwood, A. V., Rivera-Rangel, L. R., Ryberg, L. A., Larsen, H. S., Anker, K. M., Costa, R., Vågbø, C. B., Jakljevič, E., Pham, L. V., Fernandez-Antunez, C., Indrisiunaite, G., Podolska-Charlery, A., Grothen, J. E. R., Langvad, N. W., Fossat, N., Offersgaard, A., Al-Chaer, A., Nielsen, L., Kuśnierczyk, A., Sølund, C., Weis, N., Gottwein, J. M., Holmbeck, K., Bottaro, S., & Vinther, J. (2023). Hepatitis C virus RNA is 5′-capped with flavin adenine dinucleotide. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06301-3
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